RJD Hearing

Lucy’s confidence boost

5 out of 5 stars
★★★★★ 5/5

lucyBeing ‘deaf’ has always been a part of my life whether it sometimes be big or small, depending how I felt that day. but I can honestly say thanks to my new hearing aids fitted by Rob in February 2016 I now only see it as a positive.

I have never really been given an explanation to my hearing loss but it’s always been there and at about 7 years old I got my first set of hearing aids through the NHS. They were huge! Like big brown boxes on the back of my ears and moulds that made my ears stick out like Dumbo’s. The novelty quickly wore off and before long I hated them, they officially made me ‘the deaf girl’ at school. My teachers were always very mindful and respectful, the students, not so much. After a few years I tried to embrace the situation, there was no hiding them so why not go bold or go home. The NHS trying to be ‘hip and down with the kids’ offered me the chance to get new hearing aids, obviously with advanced technology but the main selling point was the bright colours and glitter. I went with bright green at first then purple. WhIlst the moulds were glittery and even had a dolphin cartoons on.

Then my teenage years hit. That was it, I was too old to be the girl with hearing aids any longer. Almost over night I stopped wearing them. At first I’d take them out on my way to school, hide them in my bag and put them back in when I got home. I started dropping hints to my family that I no longer needed them, it was a miracle I was cured! Of course not true, I just hated the way they seemed to define me, they effected my self confidence so much that I’d rather struggle. At the time I had no idea how much I’d be missing.

I then went the next 5 ish years with no hearing aids, granted my lip reading got rather good, I had no concept of how much I was missing, the little things especially. For a long time I had convinced myself I didn’t really need them ‘I was coping just fine.’ In reality I frustrated everyone with my constant ‘eh? What? Pardon?.’ I’d need the TV blasting or even with subtitles, I’d jump so easily as couldn’t pick up my surroundings, I couldn’t locate voices and sounds to save my life. The list goes on.

Some thing suddenly clicked at 21, I knew I was kidding myself I needed hearing aids. And having had a free trial from Rob at 18 I knew they were fantastic, I just had to bite the bullet. Rob and his team provided me with a unique, personal and highly professional service. I now love surprising people with my secret, hidden hearing aids. I feel so much more confident socialising, especially in large groups. Where I’d once ask someone to repeat themselves a few times, still not hear, so just smile and nod. I feel included and involved in all aspects, I can laugh along because I actually got to hear the joke before it was no longer funny. When Rob first fitted me with my hearing aids, I walked to my car and for the first time heard it unlock. I didn’t even know cars did that! Just the start of a long list of little things I didn’t know I was missing. Along with the com pilot gadget I am now even the envy of my friends and colleagues. I can listen to music and answer calls through the best headphones on the market.

In short; Thanks to Rob and my new babies, My confidence has grown, my frustration gone and being ‘deaf’ in no way shape or form defines me.

Lucy K, 21

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RJD Hearing

Phonak Virto V90 IIC

5 out of 5 stars
★★★★★ 5/5

“I have been acquainted with R J Donnan Hearing Care for 5 years, since they opened up a clinic within our family business, Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village.
I have been thinking about this for a long time, and thought as it’s ‘on my doorstep’, I’d pay a visit. As I have very little hearing in my left ear, Robert advised me to try the Phonak CROS II – which enabled me to hear sounds from both sides more or less equally. I did find the hearing improvement to be quite impressive, although I was a little self-conscious that they aids might be seen.
I then was able to try one Phonak V90 nano, a tiny pop in aid that no-one can see. The sound quality is impressive, but not perfect, however Robert assures me that the results will improve over the course of our next few appointments. Being able to try this aid for a week without having to buy it was invaluable to me, giving me the confidence that I was making the best decision.

I would recommend R J Donnan for value, service and the trial service offered.”

Mr. Peter Hargreaves, Oswaldtwistle Mills

RJD Hearing

Tinnitus matching success

5 out of 5 stars
★★★★★ 5/5

I woke up in the middle of the night at Centerparcs on 9 April 2009 with ringing in my right ear. Tinnitus is a poorly understood chronic condition which is most probably caused by damage to the inner ear with a consequential affect on the electrical circuitry in the auditory cortex.

The brain’s many responses to the high pitched ringing which its victims must endure would test the resilience of the strongest person. In the worst cases you will get constant monitoring, insomnia, anxiety and depression. You should read William Shatner’s account of his battle with it on the Internet.

In my search for an answer to this chronic problem I have seen many ENT surgeons, audiologists and other doctors, including experts on Harley Street. Eventually, and basing my approach on Professor Pawel Jastreboff’s book “Tinnitus Retraining Therapy”, I worked out that you can break the response to the ringing by retraining your brain not to respond to the noise.

It’s a long job and involves getting hearing aids fitted which play white noise at the pitch of the hearing loss during the day and which (in my case) masks it completely at night.

Of all the hearing experts I have seen, without doubt, Robert has been the most helpful and effective. He has first class phonak equipment and software and has the most up to date understanding of this problem of all the professionals I have dealt with in my 7 year struggle.

He is also, importantly, a thoroughly decent and compassionate man. If you are struggling with this problem get in touch with Robert. If it’s really bad and you need someone talk to, Robert will give you my number. Don’t give up. There is a way forward. Best of luck.

Simon

Simon is a partner in a global law firm.

5 9 16

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RJD Hearing

7 Months’ Trial

5 out of 5 stars
★★★★★ 5/5

(Phonak Audeo V50)
When I began to suspect that my hearing was changing I accessed a hearing test at my local opticians who is an associate of the above practice. Mr R J Donnan was not only very professional but very supportive throughout the process of identifying the problem, carefully explaining what the hearing test revealed, making sure that I was referred to a hospital consultant , discussing what could possibly be the cause but in a reassuring manner.
I was offered hearing aids on a free trial pending the outcome of the referral. This took somewhat longer than anticipated but the trial period was extended. It was really good to be given the opportunity to use the excellent aids straight away knowing that I was not being pressured into making any decisions until further tests had been made. The aids themselves are comfortable, discreet, stay put and have made a big difference to my hearing. I know that I can access the services of the practice for the next 5 years and entrust my hearing care to RJD Hearing Care. I would not hesitate to recommend the practice to anyone needing help with their hearing.

Mrs. Julia Lambert

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RJD Hearing

Professional and Reassuring

5 out of 5 stars
★★★★★ 5/5

For sometime I have been concerned my hearing has been deteriorating. I made a promise to myself it would never get so bad that my wife and family would be urging me to do something about it.
Recently, I went to a public meeting held in an old church. I left part of the way through because I could not properly hear the speaker. I knew I should do something about my hearing. I did some research on the Internet and decided that I should go to an independent audiologist. I found one that looked right and was located only a few miles from where I lived. I made contact to obtain some introductory literature which arrived very quickly and was of a high standard and most informative – I quickly made an appointment to see Rob Donnan at his premises in Cleckheaton.
At my first consultation I was given a hearing test the results of which I was told by Rob, I was just over the borderline and, if I had used the NHS I would have been provided with a hearing aid. Despite this Rob told me he would not make any recommendation. I could follow the NHS route; I could leave and come back when I noticed further deterioration; I could have a no obligation free trial of a pair of hearing aids. Thankfully I opted for the trial.
Over about six weeks I had several consultations with Rob; tried two different hearing aids and finally made a decision to purchase the pair I found most suitable. What thoughts led me to this decision?
My wife’s first reaction when I arrived home wearing aids: “You’re not speaking so loudly.”
Finding following conversations in a social environment much easier.
Finding telephone conversations (especially those with call centres) so much easier to follow.

Secretly I am a bit of a techie and with the Streamer Pro I enjoy remotely streaming calls and music from my smartphone directly to my hearing aids.
And one rather odd situation – after attending a memorial service for a colleague, my wife telling me it was the first time she had heard me sing in tune!
Finally, the very professional, patient, good humoured and non pushy way that Rob conducted the process throughout.

Mr. D Chandler

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RJD Hearing

Margaret Hockney’s Analogue Hearing

5 out of 5 stars
★★★★★ 5/5

“I have worn hearing aids for over 50 years. My first one was a Medresco hearing aid from the National Health Service, named after the Medical Research Council of the NHS. It was as big as cigarette box, and had a length of wire to the ear mould. It had a clip to fix on a belt or a pocket. I heard every crackle of my clothing, paper, cutlery, traffic, wind, body sounds, children screaming, whistling, clopping shoe heels, and other dreadful noises, but I could’t hear voices properly.
Through the years I graduated to buying the latest models with my hard earned cash. They continued to whistle and pick up unwanted sounds. It was not easy living in a speech world and scarcely hearing speech.
Slowly but surely hearing aids did improve, and in 2001 I bought a pair of Widex Senso P37 BTE (behind the ear). These were before digital aids – and were the best I ever had. I could almost forget I was deaf. No wind or background interference, After wearing them from morn till night for 10 years, they began to die, and I realised they needed replacing.
I was horrified to be told that they were no longer manufactured – in fact no analogue hearing aids were available any more. I got a wonderful sounding brochure about the modern digital aids. As I had taught myself to do lots of creative things on my new computer – digital certainly sounded the way to go.
My previous audiologist offered me a pair of Widex S4 Super 440 BTE digital to try out. I wore them for a couple of weeks, trying out all the bells and whistles that they had a-plenty. I was disappointed that I couldn’t hear my iPhone clearly, in fact I couldn’t hear much very clearly, but somehow I imagined that I would get used to them, so I bought them!
I never did get used to them – my head became full of awful noises and vibrations. I literally passed out twice as the programmes were adjusting automatically. The aids were returned to Widex who said they had been set too high, so they were set lower, and constantly adjusted until most of the bells and whistles were totally cut off, leaving just one programme supposedly mimicking analogue aids. The only thing that worked reasonably well was the loop gadget to hear TV, but even then I could not hear TV without reading subtitles.
I felt really deaf when I wore them, and tried to avoid social events and conversations.
I managed to wear the old analogues for another 18 months, but finally I had to wear the digitals full time.

I moved to Harrogate, and wanted to hide away from speech events, and just be reclusive and deaf, whilst socialising via the computer.
I chanced to Google for analogue hearing aids Harrogate, with no hope of a positive response.
WOW – I was WRONG. I found R.J DONNAN HEARING CARE LTD. had a branch in Knaresborough. I sussed out the venue and made an appointment to see Robert. Yes he did have ANALOGUE HEARING AIDS.
He was amazing at understanding my problem. I had home visits, clinic visits and emails so he was very much in touch.
First I tried some digital aids that he thought may suit me, but I still felt the strange head noises and weird vibrations same as I already had. So then he brought a pair of analogue UNITRON US80 PPLA.
The minute I put them in my ears I could feel the difference. My head was clearer, and voices clearer. I bought them early in June 2016. Robert also gave me a Humantechnik communication system to use with the TV. This was brilliant initially, then the receiver refused to charge. Rob sent some new rechargeable batteries to sort the problem. It worked for a while, but then stopped charging again, so although this was a very kind gesture from Rob, I have had to stop using it.
So now nearly 2 months later I am very pleased with the analogues – I don’t hear everything, but what I do hear is clearer, and my head is clearer.
I even wonder whether those digital aids worsened my hearing.
Anyway to solve the TV problem, I am wearing the digital with TV connector just for that purpose – then changing to the Unitron analogue. One time I forgot to change them before going shopping. I was very aware of the cursed digital as I did my shopping – felt dizzy, and full of noise.
There is no doubt at all that Rob has done me a great service by supplying and adjusting these analogue aids” Margaret Hockney

My Audiogram
mh audio

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RJD Hearing

Surprising Results with PHONAK CROS II

5 out of 5 stars
★★★★★ 5/5

RJDhearingcare

Approximately 25 years ago I began with bad attacks of menieres syndrome (dizziness, loss of balance and sickness). Over the years the menieres has improved but left me with 85% deafness in my right ear and awful tinnitus. I have tried an NHS hearing aid but to no avail. Recently through recommendation, my husband contacted Rob Donnan and was fitted with his hearing aids which have transformed his life!  On one of Rob’s visits to our home, I explained my situation and he offered to fit me with a ‘crossover’ system with no obligation. At first I was apprehensive and sceptical as nothing had worked previously, but decided to give the 2 week trial a go. I am over the moon with the results and can not believe the difference it has made to my life, not only can I hear so much better it has stabilized my tinnitus (in my right ear). 

 

S.Peel, Bewerley, Pateley Bridge